Even by late February, spring migration is already
under way for many species, especially the waterfowl. This trip will focus on migrating geese and swans: we’ll spend some time learning the familiar species better, like learning about Canada Geese subspecies, and we’ll especially be looking for the rarer large waterfowl that pass through our valley. Potential targets include Cackling Geese (a miniature form of the Canada Goose that was split out as its own
species in 2004), Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese, and both Trumpeter and Tundra Swans. Meet at 9:00 AM at the parking lot in front of Caffe Ibis (50 east, 150 north in Logan). We’ll be done in the early afternoon.

This is a new offering in the BAS field trip schedule! Our knowledge of the birds presently in Cache Valley is never more complete than on the night of the Christmas Bird Count(CBC) By the end of the compilation dinner, dozens of experienced birders have scoured a 7.5-mile radius circle, tallying every species, common and rare. There are always a few surprises: last year, Rusty Blackbirds and an (eastern) Winter Wren were found for the first time; the year before, it was a Lewis’s Woodpecker. What will the 2014 CBC bring?

The purpose of this field trip is twofold: first and foremost, to track down the rarest of the rare that were found the day before on the Logan CBC. We’ll probably have just one to three target birds we’ll be trying to relocate. Second, if time remains, we might try to fill in some of the species that were missed the day before. CBC data also includes “count week” species, because sometimes you just happen to miss a species that is present. We can help make our CBC data better by filling in a few of these blanks if any common species fail to turn up on count day.

Please, don’t be a moocher! It is a lot of birding to participate all day on the CBC and then go out again the next morning for more. But, we’d like to limit this trip to ONLY people who participated in the CBC. It’s not fair to capitalize on other’s heroic CBC efforts without contributing yourself. To register for the Logan CBC, email Bryan Dixon at bdixon@xmission.com.

Meeting details will be announced at the CBC compilation dinner, but we’ll likely go from 9AM to noon. As with all our field trips, it is free to attend and all skill levels are welcome.

Announcing the return of our ever-popular annual trip to Antelope Island! November is a great time to visit this famous birding location. Last year we picked up a Tropical Kingbird on the way down, and then found more rarities at Antelope Island including a Sabine’s Gull, a Black Scoter, and thirteen Surf Scoters! We’ll bird the causeway first, picking out various species of ducks and shorebirds, take a break at the visitor’s center (where we could see California Quail and Chukar), and then continue down to Garr Ranch, one of the best spots in the state for vagrant songbirds. Bring a lunch and a few dollars to help cover the $10 per vehicle entrance fee and the driver’s gas. We’ll meet at the parking lot across from Caffe Ibis (50E 150N) at 8:00 AM and carpool from there. As for all BAS trips, members and non-members of all skill levels are welcome, and admission is free.

Wednesday April 30: In search of the elusive American Bittern. Meet at 5:30 pm at the Cutler marsh picnic area/boat launch at the west edge of the reservoir. From Logan: Drive west on Valley View highway, across the valley; cross the Little Bear River and turn left into the marina.
contact: Jean Lown, 435-760-2392; jean.lown@usu.edu